Cody went to see his family physician Dr. Eggenberg on Thurs. Nov. 14th, who referred him to Dr. Hamblin, a local urologist. Dr. Hamblin performed an exam and ultrasound and Cody was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He was scheduled for x-rays and CAT-scans for Sat. Nov 15th and for surgery Mon. Nov. 18th.
Surgery went well, Dr. Hamblin removed a tumor the size of a grapefruit. He said the tumor had many different types of cancer cells and that the cancer had already spread to the lymph nodes in his abdomen and to his lungs.
We arrived in Houston Nov. 24th and got a suite at the Harvey suites hotel. Cody and Wayne (his dad) flew down and Vana (my husband) and I made the 8 hour drive from Oklahoma.
On Mon. Nov. 25th we met with Dr. Phillip Salem, Cody's oncologist, he reviewed all of the scans and the pathology slides. He was very positive about the prognosis stating that this kind of cancer has about a 98% cure rate, but that Cody had a large amount of disease.
We went to Saint Lukes hospital on Tues. Nov. 26th for outpatient surgery. Dr. Brown placed a port-a-cath (a device to give medicine through) in Cody's chest. He started his chemo regimen Nov. 27th which consisted of one week on medication and two weeks off. Dr. Salem wanted Cody to stay in Houston until he completed his second round of chemo so he could monitor for side effects. He tolerated the treatments very well and got to go home on Sat. Dec. 21st.
I was working as a nurse at the time and carried the family insurance, Wayne was helping his dad with the family farm so we decided he would stay with Cody when in Houston and I would travel back and fourth. We started looking for an apt. and rented a church sponsored apt. at Brompton Courts.
Cody continued his chemo regimen, one week on and two weeks off through May 24, 1997. He would have bloodwork done each week and would have a full evaluation after every 3rd cycle of chemo. For the most part he tolerated his treatments well and had very few side effects.
On Mon. June 9, Cody had his full evaluation done. The scans came back with only shadows, which the Dr. thought were dead cells. His tumor marker (a test which shows how active the cancer is) came back normal. Cody had completed 9 cycles of chemo, he was released to go home. He would have to have bloodwork and scans every 2-3 months for the next few years, but otherwise was finished with treatments.
We returned to Houston in early Aug. for Codys evaluation so he would have time to get enrolled back in school. Saw Dr. Salem at 3:00pm on Aug. 8th. THE CANCER IS BACK. there were new spots on his liver. Cody.... all of us were devastated. We came home to let the news sink in, treatment will start again in a couple of weeks.
We returned to Houston on Aug. 16th got another apt. and started new chemo regimen. The new regimen was very strong and Cody had more side effects with it. He had his full evaluation on Oct. 20th, the spots on his liver were larger, The Dr. said Cody had multiple types of cancer and that some (lungs & lymph nodes) were responding to treatment and others (liver) were not.
We had Thanksgiving at our house, my mom, both my sisters and their families, my husband Vana,and all our children, Stacy his wife Lisa, Cody and Jenny were there. Cody still had a good appetite, but he looked very tired and was even more quiet than usual.
On Dec. 3 Cody "blacked out" and didn't tell anyone. On Dec. 4th He, Jason and Scott were going to Scotts house, they stopped at the store and when Cody got out of the truck he had a seizure. He was taken to the ER by ambulance and a CAT scan showed the cancer had spread to his brain.
We returned to Houston on Dec. 5th. He continued to have some seizure activity due to problems regulating his medication, as a result of the seizures he started having left side weakness. He eventually lost all movement on his left side.
Over the next few weeks Cody began radiation treatment for the brain metastisis, he was in severe pain and was unable to walk or move his left side. Once he was stalblized he was admitted to TIRR (Texas Institute of Rehab and Research) He went through rehab and regained the use of his left side again. We celebrated Christmas and enjoyed our time together. Jenny fed Cody candy (he couldn't open the wrappers with just one hand), we watched movies and decorated his room..
Cody was discharged from TIRR on Jan 9th. He developed a fever and sore throat and began spitting up blood. He didn't want to go back to the hospital he wanted to watch the football playoffs. After the games he gave in and went to the hospital.
By monday Jan 12th he was very bad his heart rate and breathing rate were very high, Dr McGovern (lung specialist) talked to us and Cody about life suport. Cody asked him some questions then told the Dr. he did not want to be put on life suport. Dr. McGovern said he would do everything he could to make him comfortable (and he did). Codys brother, Stacy and his wife Lisa, arrived that afternoon. My sisters, Cheri and Darla, and Darla's husband Scott arrived that evening. Karla, Dr. Salems nurse got us a family room and we all were able to spend some time alone with Cody. After Cody made his decision, he was very peaceful. As a matter of fact he was very good, he laughed and joked with us, his breathing was easier and he was not coughing as much.
Cody became progressively worse , on Jan 14th they started him on a morphine pump to keep him comfortable. We held hands and prayed togerther, we thanked God for sharing Cody with us and told Cody how proud we were of him and how hard he fought, then released him to the Lord.. Cody left this world and met with Jesus at 1:30 pm Jan 14, 1998, He was very peaceful and was surrounded by his family.
